MAHINDRA GENIO

The 2016 Mahindra Genio upgrade - February 2016

The Mahindra Pik Up looked a bit too agricultural for some buyers: enter the Genio. This much more handsome ute came as a short cab and a crew cab. Power and torque are lower than the market average, but so are the prices.

Like the Pik Up the 2015 Genio had a ladder-frame chassis, independent front coil spring suspension, rear live axle with leaves and disc-drum braking.

The engine was the Pik Up's mHawk, common-rail-injection, DOHC, 16-valve, 2.2-litre, four-cylinder diesel, with variable-geometry turbocharger, with outputs of 90kW at 4000rpm and 280Nm at 1800-2800rpm. Both these figure were way off the current ute pace.

Our testing of the Pik Up predicted excellent economy for the Genio, but even so, a 75-litre fuel tank was tiny.

The main transmission was a five-speed manual and the tansfer case was a two-speed Borg Warner item.

In February 2016 Mahindra released upgraded Genio single cab and dual-cab ute and cab/chassis models.

Unfortunately, engine outputs remained the same and the 15-inch wheel offering was still the only one available.

The single-cab, base model 4WD cab/chassis, including a heavy-duty aluminium tray, had a drive-away price of $23,490. The The drive-away price for the 4WD dual-cab/chassis and ute models was identical at $28,490.

Payload rating for the single cab was 1160kg and 1000kg for the dual cab. GVM was 2980kg and towing capacity for a braked trailer was restricted to a maximum of 1800kg. .

The cab/chassis versions came with an aluminium tray from Queensland manufacturer MMM, with tray dimensions of 2700 x 1777mm for the single cab and 1950mm length x 1777mm in width for the double cab. The removable drop-sides and tailgate were 250mm in height.

The 2016 Genion had SRS airbags for the driver and front passenger, side intrusion beams in the doors, a collapsible steering column and ABS braking.

Air conditioning, power steering, central locking, cruise control, power windows and audio controls mounted on the steering wheel were standard and the optional Bluetooth phone accessory operated through a push button control on the dashboard.